A Few Links, etc.

Been away on a school visit to Bailey Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, with Karen and Bill of Literate Lives. Since they’ve already threatened to blog about it, I’ll refrain from much comment. Especially as I’m a little fuzzy in the Brain Department this glorious morn. The students were great, happy and well-prepared, and the overall team effort — from principal to PTO parent — made it all feel like a cohesive, coordinated success. Beyond the whole “content delivering” aspect, we all enjoyed some laughs along the way and made new friendships. A happy time; I’m grateful for the experience.

* The Reading Zone recently reviewed Along Came Spider, and even (insanely!) used the M-word. That’s overstating it for sure, but I appreciate the enthusiasm. The money quote:

This is a great book and one I can’t wait to share with my students. I think it will resonate with boys and girls alike. James Preller has crafted yet another masterpiece for middle grade readers!

* Bill Prosser did his first-ever interview over at Literate Lives, sitting down with author N.D. Wilson. A very nice job, especially for someone who went twenty minutes before realizing he forgot to turn on the tape recorder! Check it out and encourage Bill to do more.

* Lastly, I recently directed a teacher friend to visit The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks, which is on my fabulous blogroll on the right sidebar, under Random Pleasures. For anyone who enjoys language, and grammar, and unintended humor, this is a fun, quick site and worth seeing. I can’t imagine a language arts teacher/person not enjoying it. I love when a blog gets very specific like this, mining that one vein.

3 comments

I have to tell you that I have come back to this post several times. Your encouragement to look at that blog and your thoughts about some type of “word” blog has my interest peaked. I will let you know what happens.

One of the things I like about the “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks is the photographic element, that reminder that we are swimming in language. That’s what I thought of when you talked about your interest in words. Maybe you could do something with photos and surprising, arresting, fabulous words you find . . . just by looking around at street signs, billboards, graffiti, whatever? Or maybe you’ll be aggrieved by poor word choices? I don’t know. Also: My only other advice is don’t feel you have to wait to know exactly what you are doing before you start. Because nobody knows what they are doing with their blogs. I, personally, am clueless. But you’ll find it has its own momentum, things sort of take shape (or not), and you find yourselves wandering down a path. That is: It’s fun, and you never get on that road until you take that first step.

By the way, if you haven’t yet subscribed to Anu Garg’s great A Word a Day email service, you really should. You can use the (snazzy! new!) search function of my blog to find the relevant link.

Once again you have given me something to think about. I love the photo idea and I love the word of the day site. I actually have one that I use with my students in the morning as they come into class. THANKS!